For the uninitiated (including myself before I received this CD) the Horropops are a no frills psychobilly band which incorporates all the usual old-school, rockabilly and new wave influences. Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark the band was formed when lead vocalist Patricia met Kim Nekroman of Nekromantix fame and the rest, as they say is history. Five years later they have produced an album that is virtually faultless, from the mellow, funk like bass lines to the growling vocals of the aforementioned Patricia, who really pulls it all together in a neat punk package.
An extremely funky and mellow bass line brings us into opening track ‘Julia’ which plods along at a rate which will seem but a distant memory as ‘Drama Queen’ shadows it with the growling vocals taking centre stage on another classy effort. As early as a mere two tracks in it is clear to see the quartet mean business. ‘Ghouls’ was one of the first efforts ever produced by the group which gained them their fame on the Copenhagen club circuit back in 1999 and carries on the high standards with its bouncy nature and tinny guitar riffs running the show.
Such noise barrages as ‘Where they Wander’ alleviate some of the more subtle and mellowed out (If you can use such a phrase) efforts such as ‘Miss Take’ and ‘Dotted With Hearts’, while ‘Girl in a Cage’ has a distinctly ska feel to it as it bounces on effortlessly from start to finish as ‘Cool Flat Top’ steals the show with a distinct homage to 1950’s rock and roll making itself known from the moment the drums kick in at the beginning.
Thumping bass drums dominate the chant friendly ‘Psychobitches Outta Hell’ while the only minor disappointment comes in the form of ‘What’s under my bed?’ as it labours slightly under the weight of what has come before it. ‘Emotional Abuse’ is a slow burner, which certainly grows while the album is closed with the instrumental ‘Horror Beach’, which sounds as if it could have been lifted from Pulp Fiction it simply oozes that cool sound which Quentin Tarantino always manages to find effortlessly for his films.
I feel fairly privileged to have heard these 40 minutes of punk rock at it’s finest. From the energetic drumming to the faultless riffage of lead guitarist Kim Nekroman and tied together with the superb leading vocals it is a worthy addition to ANYONES record collection. As Patricia said “We didn’t want to be categorised. Horrorpops wanted to be good old fashioned rock and roll”. They managed it, and they managed it with some panache.
Jay
